Winner: Policies, Programs and Concepts – Large Scale

Better Placed — An integrated design policy for the built environment of New South Wales by Government Architect New South Wales.
Image:
Government Architect New South Wales

Better Placed by Government Architect New South Wales.

Jury citation:

Better Placed sets out an integrated design policy for the built environment of New South Wales. It defines good design in terms of both process and outcome and highlights its fundamental role in the creation of high-quality built environments.

Notably, this is the first time that New South Wales has had an overarching policy or statement that sets out what the NSW Government seeks when it refers to “good design” across a full range of built environment projects in all typologies and scales.

The jury was impressed that Better Placed is the outcome of a collaborative process based on a review of global and local best practice and applying this to challenges and opportunities in the state. The document is being used by government and the private sector to shape processes and focus discussions on design early in the development of projects. Sharing examples of best practice has challenged people and organizations to think and do better.

For more coverage, see the article by ArchitectureAU acting editor Linda Cheng.